The Governor Is Getting Rich

Jesse Ventura's fame as a former pro wrestler launched his unexpected political fortunes. Now, it seems, the Minnesota governor is about to make a personal fortune by cashing in on his office, reports Pat Kessler of CBS station WCCO-TV.

"It's the governorship of Minnesota that is the market value in this. It's not the fact Jesse Ventura was a name wrestler in the late '70s and early '80s," says Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Wrestling analysts say Ventura stands to make at least $1 million as a celebrity referee at a pro wrestling event Sunday night. The governor says $100,000 will go to charities he will establish, but all this is just one of the ways he's earning cash on the side.

He's also published a best-selling bad boy autobiography, and he won't rule out commercial endorsements or movie roles while in office. Ventura's image is on products everywhere. He's unapologetic about reports that he's made at least $2 million in outside income since his recent election.

The governor gives wrestler "Triple H" a piece of his mind.

Ventura's critics say he's stepped over the line separating public good from private greed. "You can't sell your position to the highest bidder. You can't engage in things that will compromise you. And what the governor is saying is, 'I can do whatever I want,'" says David Schultz of Common Cause Minnesota.

Former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson calls it "the greening of the office."

"I can see a day when a governor or a person of great political stature will be on television, endorsing products. And that's a horrifying prospect," he says.

Ventura says only the voters can judge his ethics. His approval rating is at a record 73 percent and so far, he's managed to body slam his critics.

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